[To Roswell]. (...) I recd your Letter of the 27th Decr in which you
ask concerning the Daguerrean Art. As for the profit in Tomís business,
there is none, in regard to the Labour it is light. I shall send you a
treatise on the Art by Gilman and France allowing you to judge for yourself.
(...) We have published one thousand of these pamphlets in which we have
pretty fully divulged the Art which Boston photographers ask twenty five
dollars for. This is playing Morgan with them, but I shall not meet his
fate, as I was not sworn to secrecy. If I thought you Bromeites could raise
money enough to pay for a Lecture I might be induced to take my Apparatus
and visit you giving a Lecture on the Art which would make your eyes water,
but as it is I think I shall sell out soon. What business I shall next
get into is more than I can tell. I should however prefer some light employment
as my lameness troubles me a little. Uncle advises me to get into a druggist
Store but this I am unable to do, as I should not receive much wages for
the first year.

I have visited Andover and stopped there a fortnight as a Proffessor
of Photography visiting the Students in the Theological Seminary. This
place you will recollect is the seat of Philips Academy. So goes the world.
This is kind of a holiday, being the anniversary of Washingtonís birth.
The Washingtonian total Abstinence Drunkards have a grand celebration at
the City Hall this afternoon and a supper at night. Uncle goes the whole
figure being an Officer in the Society. This Society is very popular here,
having a reading room &c with the great reformed Hawkins to lecture
for them.

The City Guards parade in uniform this afternoon and have a great ball
in the evening. Uncle is a member of this company and of course will attend.
Aunt is hard at work fixing silks and lace. The Millerites are also doing
a stiff business. One of the sect, Fish by name has gone to Canada, he
is a thorough going nonresistant, rap him on the head and prove him. Cousin
Gardner and Lady have been here, she is a very intelligent well educated
familiar sociable easy Woman. As to her qualifications in regard to household
duties I cannot say. She is very anxious to visit Canada with Uncle but
her husband rather declines being rather ashamed of his connections or
something else. If she visits you, you cannot fail of being interested
with her, for acquainted with you she will be, in short she is such a wife
as I should like were I with thousands. As for Aunt I cannot say you will
get acquainted with her, but I should advise you to put your best foot
forward, and look out for the fashions.

One of your Bromeites was hauled up before the Police Court the other
day for passing counterfeit money and is now immured for six months in
the house of correction. Horace Huntley is his name. (...)

No sleighing here this winter, the weather appearing more like spring
than winter. If you will come down here I will make you acquainted with
Miss Phillis. I went into a boarding house this morning to hire a pedlar,
was introduced to a Lady. Canít say whether she is a Phillis a Minerva
or what. Rather a lascivious dress with her swan neck bare to her, you
must not touch me. In short, I suppose she was a good girl, only the dupe
of fashion. The fashion for ladies walking dress is a short Cloak gathered
in the back with a hood attached to the upper part which is allowed to
hang down the back and very much resembles a Frenchmanís Capot. On their
heads they wear Ellsler hoods or kiss me if you dare, these have ears attached
to them resembling hounds ears. More Anon. (...)

March 3d (...) Please tell father to dispose of my land if he has an
opportunity, as I would willingly exchange it for a Lowell farm. I shall
expect to see you here in about a year if your Polly does not keep you,
at home